Another Side Of Christmas

I have been thinking back on my time in Ireland and some of the sadness I feel when looking back. I thought of the greatest of Christmas songs "A fairy Tale of New York" the Pogues version with Kirsty MacCall (anything else is watered down tripe.)

But then I thought of this and how it would keep me awake some nights after I would hear it. Despite its title (the event was in 1914 not 1915 ) it cannot help but move you perhaps in a way that you may not want to be moved. I have posted it for you but find I can't listen myself.

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An Cogadh a Deireadh Gach Wars

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Nollaig Shona!
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Thanks for the Link, Barry.

I can see how it would play on one's mind.

 

As long as I am traveling down my personal Memory Lane, I had never heard Fairytale of New York until arriving in Ireland. To anyone there (and perhaps the UK as well ) the Christmas season did not officially begin until it played on the radio. It is clearly not a child's Christmas song but it has been modified (terribly) for play in supermarkets and malls. No Radio ever plays anything but the original and no attempt at covering it has ever succeeded.

It is one of the great songs of all time (Christmas or not) but not suitable for play on the US radio. Kirsty MacColl was killed tragically saving her son from being hit by a millionaire's boat traveling in a dive area off the coast of Mexico. Shane McGowen the lead singer is still aorund although most of his teeth are either rotting or missing.

Here it is:

Interestingly, the BBC required that the word arse be changed to ass to make it more respectable but the rest of the song was played as you heard it.
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America strange

Please tell me you get this one on US Radio

 

Yes not only did us Black Country Folk give you the industrial revolution we also gave you Slade :snckr:

 

Yes we do, now stop hijacking my nostalgia!

 

Thankyou Barry for posting the memorys of the first world war...very emotional...

I'm in total agreement with you regarding the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's collaboration with this song....


And thankyou Match for reminding me of my baby sisters favourite band...she left us in the early 70's aged just 13 years...once again, very emotional..

 

Two terrific songs, Slade used to be one of my favorite bands, makes me think of home (England) and my younger days...........

 

So often I've tried to imagine what it must have been like - for soldiers on both sides in any and all wars, especially during Christmas and this is such a moving and beautiful, yet incredibly sad song. 'Silent Night' by Jerry Linch simply touches one's heart. Thank you so much for sharing this, Barry.

I'd not heard the 'Fairytale of New York' before - well done, indeed!

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Hadn't heard your great song before either, Match - think it comes from my living on the 'wrong side' of the pond. Wonder if it's possible to move it to a new thread, perhaps called 'All Things Christmas', so we don't inadvertently 'hijack' our Barry's thread here? - would love to comment on it and Frank and Alan's post, as well - and perhaps we can add add anything and everything pertaining to Christmas in it?

 

My christmas classic has to be from 1984.

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